Coastal Cetacean Observation & Marine Stewardship Under Sail

What you cover, in rotation

The group works through these in order and then begins again on fresh ground. Join at whatever stage it is on — nothing here assumes you were there for the last one, and nothing runs out — or drop in for a single session if that is all you can manage.

1. Stage 1Cetacean Migration Patterns & Horizon Scanning

   • Pacific gray whale routes from Alaska to the Baja breeding lagoons.
   • Detecting spouts, flukes and breaching on the horizon.
   • NOAA guidelines for ethical wildlife observation distances.
2. Stage 2Marine Acoustics, Hydrophones & Whale Vocalisations

   • Deploying directional hydrophones to listen to live whale and dolphin calls.
   • Underwater soundscapes and the impact of commercial shipping noise.
   • Identifying common, bottlenose and Pacific white-sided dolphin pods.
3. Stage 3Oceanographic Pelagic Zones & Seabird Indicators

   • Upwelling zones, submarine canyons and krill density.
   • Shearwaters, storm-petrels and phalaropes as indicators of feeding whales.
   • Dorsal fin photo-identification for the Happywhale database.
4. Stage 4Offshore Ocean Conservation & Sunset Return

   • Deep-water data collection: temperature, salinity and microplastics.
   • An extended passage alongside migratory pods in afternoon light.
   • A debrief on marine sanctuary expansion and conservation.

4 sessions in the cycle, then it begins again on new ground.